Every year, many recreational athletes on the Big island are inspired to run, swim and bike more as a result of watching the Ironman World Championship, the Lavaman Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, locally known as, “Honu,” in person.
Every year, many recreational athletes on the Big island are inspired to run, swim and bike more as a result of watching the Ironman World Championship, the Lavaman Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, locally known as, “Honu,” in person.
Those three events involve professionals — and amateurs — at the top of their sport. Something about watching in person inspires in a different way than reading about the athletes. I might also add that watching these events inspires many people to become volunteers in the sports as well.
The same can be said for golf on the Big Island, if you know where to find it. There are three golf tournaments that will take place on the Big Island next couple months that may inspire you to play more golf, practice more, or simply have more fun with the game.
The three tournaments are: Mauna Lani Resort Hawaii State Open, in partnership with the Aloha Section PGA, which runs today through Sunday, the PGA Tour Champions Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Jan. 17-21 and the Amer Ari Division I Intercollegiate Invitational at Waikoloa Beach Resort Kings’ Course, from Feb. 1-4.
Hawaii State Open
The Hawaii State Open is for professionals and amateurs. The 54-hole stroke play championship event consists of four divisions: Men’s Open, Men’s Senior Open, Women’s Open, and Men’s A-Flight on the Francis H. I’i Brown North and South courses. This year, the tournament welcomes a field of 165 players, male and female, from across the state, U.S. mainland and other countries with a total purse of $60,000.
In the Men’s Open division, Nick Mason returns to defend his title against a field of past champions and young professionals.
Last year, Mason won over Parker McLachlin in a five hole sudden death play-off for his third title at the event. Past champions include 1987 U.S. Open Champion Scott Simpson and local favorites in Japan PGA touring professional David Ishii and PGA Tour player Dean Wilson. Ishii is the only player to have won both the Hawaii State Open and the Hawaiian Open.
The Hawaii State Open is one of Hawaii’s oldest tournaments and has an interesting history. According to the Aloha Section PGA web site, it began in 1974 as a revival of the original Hawaiian Open which started in the 1920’s to determine the best golfer in the Islands. Great players from the mainland were invited to compete and did so for more than 30 years. Because of the diversity of players, and the boost in economy from these events, three former Waialae Country Club presidents — Ken Brown, John Bellinger and Francis Wright — asked the PGA Tour to add the Hawaiian Open as a regular stop on the PGA Tour in 1965.
Although this was a great commercial success, it restricted Hawaii’s pros and amateurs from participating in the Hawaiian Open, since now to play in the event you had to be a playing member on the PGA Tour. So for a few years there was not a premier event for Hawaiian players.
The tournament was revived in 1974 and it was called the Hawaii State Open with same mission: to find the best golfer in Hawaii. The tournament’s Ted Makalena perpetual trophy is named after the man who was the first Hawaii resident to win a PGA Tour event – the 1966 PGA Tour Hawaiian Open.
In 1976, a women’s division was added, and 1989, a senior division. It was run by the Oahu Junior Golf Association until 1993, when it was taken over by the Aloha Section PGA and in 2006 the Aloha Section PGA Foundation took over.
Wesley Wailehua, executive director and CEO of Aloha Section PGA and Foundation, his staff, Tom Sursley, the Mauna Lani Director Golf, Nao Tomashiro, Mauna Lani Director of Golf Operations, and their team run a first class tournament including a Pro-Am raising funds for the Aloha Section PGA Foundation. Spectators are welcome and free.
The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
The 2017 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai will run from Jan. 17-21. The final round being on Saturday, means football fans who love golf too can stay home and watch football on Sunday!
The event is made up of event champions of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, winners of majors since 2012 and ten professionals by invitation, with a minimum of five or more career victories, including one major. It’s a wonderful event for spectators on the beautiful Hualalai Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu.
The PGA Champions Tour players who will be at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai include John Daly, Fred Funk, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Tom Watson, and Rocco Mediate. Duffy Waldorf will be back to defend his title, as well.
While we get an opportunity to see some of the Champions Tour players up close and be inspired by their golf, I think one of the best aspects of this event is that for the last 20 years funds that have been raised for local charities. The Rotary Club of Kona organizes the volunteers, with Kris Hazard and Larry Webb, continuing as volunteer co-chairs and in return the tournament donates to the Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation.
Big Island Junior Golf is one of the charities as well. I always look forward to Saturday when the keiki from the Big Island Junior Golf in Hilo come to the tournament after they play their own tournament at Mauna Lani Resort. They are knowledgeable golf fans and so enthused when getting autographs. While players are good with the fans, they are especially attentive to the juniors. In the past Tom Watson and Hale Irwin each year have a special interaction with the keiki joking and interacting with them as they signs autographs. I have friends who were junior golfers when this event started 20 years ago on the Big Island and no question being around this quality golf inspired my friends to practice, get on their high school team and earn college scholarships. Now, a handful are now professional golfers.
AmerAri Invitational Intercollegiate Golf Tournament
The 26th AmerAri Invitational Intercollegiate Golf Tournament at Waikoloa Beach Resort with top Division I players will be Feb. 1-4.
The University of Hawaii-Hilo, Waikoloa Beach Resort Head and PGA pro Kevin Ginoza — along with his stellar staff — host very well run tournament of top Division I teams from across the country.
The Amer Ari is considered one of the most popular and competitive intercollegiate tournaments. It involves most of the Pac 12, some of the top 10 teams in collegiate golf and future PGA Tour Players are on the course. Matt Kuchar, Tiger Woods, Notah Begay, Bob May and Jordan Speith are just a few who have played in this event during their collegiate golf careers.
The host Vulcans are anticipating a stellar 2016 tournament which will include top 10 teams such as Auburn, USC and Stanford. The event is free and spectators are welcome. Tee off is at 7:30 a.m. every morning. I suggest getting to the practice range before or after each days round and watching how they practice and prepare. The parking lot overflow from spectators is good indication that people enjoy being around this event.
Other dis-n-dat
Emily T Gail Show espnhawaii.com 24/7 under the lineup tab, iTunes free podcast and Emily T Gail Talk Story on Facebook will have reports and conversations from all the events mentioned here and Emily T Gail Talk Story/youtube features conversations with players and spectators and volunteers.